Exploring the History of Western Myanmar

Mrauk U, the ancient capital of Rakhine State (formerly Arakan) in the 16th century, was a place that captured the imagination of the Portuguese, who yearned for the Orient. Interestingly, like Japan, its first contact with the West was also through the Portuguese. The site is home to 80,000 enshrined Buddha images. Numerous pagodas and temples, beginning with the Shittaung Pagoda, are scattered across the mountainous region. This presents a striking contrast to the plains of Bagan, where the ancient ruins are spread out. Further north, the ruins of the ancient city of Danyawadi, which flourished from the 6th to 4th centuries BCE, still show their historical presence. To reach Mrauk U, you first fly from Yangon to Sittwe, and then embark on a scenic 2 to 4-hour boat journey along the beautiful Kaladan River.